Ombudsman to get power to probe hospital complaints

FINANCE Minister CharlieMcCreevy will give the Ombudsman powers to investigate complaints about some of the country's biggest hospitals, his spokeswoman said yesterday.

Ombudsman Kevin Murphy will strongly criticise the Government today for failing to give him these powers, despite promises toprovide them nine years ago.The new laws giving the Office of the Ombudsman powers to investigate complaints against 27 public voluntary hospitals were promised in the Programme for Government nine years ago.

When the Ombudsman launches his 2002 annual report in Dublin today, Mr Murphy will reveal no progress has been made in fulfilling that commitment.